🔗 Share this article

I have a few opinions regarding the remarks delivered by the sports network commentator a well-known announcer following Novak Djokovic's victory over Taylor Fritz in the US Open last eight. Consider – the athlete represents the United States, Fowler is from the US – and sports frequently lend themselves to nationalism. A little bit of letdown was appropriate. Rather, he invoked the continued absence of American men at grand slam tournaments: not one of them has won a title since Andy Roddick in 2003, and Fritz had been the final representative in the tournament.

We all enjoy a narrative, me too. But come on. Even if the American defeated the legend for the first time, force of nature the Spanish star was looming in the following match, who Fritz has yet to beat in an official match. And had he somehow survived that, it would have been defending champion the Italian, against whom the American had lost 10 of the last 11 sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also divided the previous seven grand slams (and the Spaniard went on to thrash a fatigued Djokovic in the next round). He said in press following his defeat that he in fact preferred his path, because it offered the opportunity to beat the three best players in the world in succession. Fritz is well within his right to aim for the achievement; an athlete is meant to have faith in themselves. But going into that Serbian last eight match who else in their right mind had the lack of US winners in mind?

Coco Gauff’s second serve the only thing between her and consistent victories

Fritz, 28, is ranked number four in the global rankings starting the upcoming ATP World Tour Finals and has won his previous six matches over third-ranked the German with growing comfort. Presumably he might claim that position for himself in the future. But evidently that at present, that’s as high as he can rise: Sinner and Alcaraz lie a vast gap of performance metrics away. Fritz’s top-class delivery and powerful power on each forehand and reverse side are sufficiently enough to defeat the majority of opponents on the professional circuit. Against the handful of generational talents, though, Fritz is frequently overmatched. The last several years has seen the curious rise of tall, gangly athletes who can nonetheless cover the court with the alarming speed and fluidity of much shorter men. Fritz is six-foot-five and appears that way. His movement is rigid, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his legs. So he’ll rarely steal a point that the other player was controlling, and playing a soft shot versus him is typically a reliable tactic. That serves as a quite harsh limitation on his potential.

The American has made a number of significant, improbable improvements over the years. At the beginning of the ten-year period, he was circling the lower end of the world's best thirty. 24 months later, he was approaching the elite ten. Last year, he unexpectedly surged to No 4 – and held the spot. But the next leap, mixing it up with and beating legendary figures like the young Spaniard, the Italian, and including a declining Serbian, is the toughest of all. What could the commentator thinking? That the American, in 2025, was a serious threat to beat them all back-to-back? That it was worth mentioning the ongoing drought of American men winning major titles when Fritz had exited the New York major in the quarter-finals? The thirst is just too much and the respect for the magnitude of the challenge insufficient.

The American star made a career-best run to the All England Club last four in the summer.

Fritz’s performance in that very quarter-final should have been enough of an indication. The Serbian won in four sets, a win that only seemed uncertain for moments towards the very end, when Fritz had survived a few match points and had a opportunity to maintain serve for 5-5. The duo appeared well-balanced during the rallies, with the American creating numerous chances to break. But Djokovic rescued break point after service break opportunity, extending the run to the brink of agony. When Fritz finally did convert one of the opportunities at 5-5 in the second set, he immediately produced a horrendous game to lose his own serve again; Djokovic had lulled him into a battle peripheral to the real battle and compelled him to expend far too much effort to prevail. Down set points in the final game, his primary delivery sailed to the sky. He extended the contest two times on his second serve, but finally double-faulted. It wasn’t a choke, in my opinion, just a consequence of needing to hit too many second serves.

The contest was fairly compelling proof that the American is not good enough to beat any version of the Serbian, who was defeated by Alcaraz in the next round and never particularly appeared like he thought he could win. This is absolutely acceptable – Djokovic is the best player ever, and might not be at the height of his athletic abilities anymore, but has developed enough experience and tactical know-how to compensate for a significant portion of the drop-off. The problem is those who were anticipating Fritz to prevail, and pressuring him to do so, when he was yet to accomplished anything that indicated he would.

Fritz is an asset to the tour regardless. He’s a patient, thoughtful presence in press conferences, exceeding almost everyone on the men's tour except for the Russian star, prepared to not just express his emotions or the strategy he felt decided a match, but clarify it. That he should shoulder the majority of the blame for America not spawn a male major champion since Andy Roddick feels unfair. (Since Ben Shelton is rubbing shoulders with him in the rankings, maybe they can share that burden.)

Year-End Championships: Singles Groups

American legend Division

• The Spanish phenom
• The American contender
• The Australian speedster
• The Italian stylist

Swedish icon Group

• Jannik Sinner (It)
• The German powerhouse
• Ben Shelton (US)
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I would likely dwell on it forever if I fail to accomplish it,” the American informed a journalist in June of winning a major. I hope he realizes that he’s not a failure if he does not achieve that goal, that overcoming the Spanish and Italian's dominant, formidable empire is in fact highly improbable for all other players. {